8 Ways I Deal With Depression Daily

Depression affects so many people, including myself. It’s an illness that can be so hard to deal with. Sometimes it feels like you’re getting better, then you just get pulled back into it again.

Battling mental illness can be like a roller coaster. When it comes to my depression and anxiety, there can be periods of time where I’m free from both, then it goes downhill and the thought of even getting out of bed can be a battle. It’s a never-ending cycle of ups and downs.

One thing that’s important to keep in mind is that it won’t last forever. Sometimes I feel like it will and it can make things even more overwhelming, but there always comes a time where I’m happy again. It’s something have to keep reminding myself. But just remember how strong you are.

And during the times when you’re battling your illness, finding ways to deal with it daily is important.

1- I keep a journal.

Keeping a journal has helped me with so many things, including my depression. Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions, letting it all out in my journal helps me feel more at peace. I also like to use my bullet journal for random things like making lists or keeping track of things and that helps me feel better too, especially when I try to make everything look pretty. 🙂 There are tons of different journals out there and pretty much any of them can be helpful for depression. If you haven’t tried it, you definitely should!

2- I stay grateful.

I cannot talk enough about how helpful practicing gratitude is. When I’m feeling intense depression, I feel hopeless. All that I can think about is what’s wrong with me and what I’m lacking, and that does nothing to help break through the depression. But when I take a minute to think about what I’m blessed with, it can really change my perspective. Pointing out the things that make me happy does a lot to boost my mood. No matter how bad things are, we always have something to be grateful for and it’s important that we don’t take it for granted.

3- I focus on my faith.

Going to church, reading the Bible, praying, and meditating has helped me SO much with my overall mental health and inner peace. Having faith in something has taken away the feelings of purposeless that I used to feel. It’s made me feel like there’s more of a reason for life in general. I’m not saying that everyone has to be a Christian, but I’m saying that having some sort of spiritual life can help a lot with depression. Whether you find a religion that speaks to you or you put your faith in the Universe, it can make you a much happier person.

4- I turn my brain off.

The combination of depression and anxiety that I feel sometimes can make my brain feel overwhelmed. So I do things to turn it off and distract myself from the negative thoughts. I usually do this either by playing video games, reading a book, or binging my favorite shows. This helps me to alleviate the negative feelings and helps me feel more at peace, at least for a little while.

5- I make myself laugh.

Something that always makes me feel better is finding something to laugh about. It can be hard to let yourself laugh if your depression is really bad, but it’s one of the best ways to cheer yourself up. I do this by watching funny TV shows, watching YouTube videos, or talking to someone who makes me laugh. Find something that makes you laugh and I guarantee that you’ll feel happier.

6- I complete small tasks.

Some days, it can be hard to even think about getting out of bed, let alone going to work or facing the tasks on your to-do list. So, set the bar lower. If you’re really depressed, don’t expect yourself to get everything done. Give yourself one small task that you need to get done and try to do it. Then give yourself one more thing and do that. This can help you actually accomplish something and it might even give you the motivation to get more done!

7- I do something creative.

A big thing that’s always helped me when I’m feeling bad is doing something creative. Pouring my heart into something allows me to get negativity off of my chest and express myself. This goes for any negative emotion too, not just depression. I usually like to draw or crochet or work on this blog, but there are so many different options when it comes to being creative!

8- I reach out for help if I need it.

It can be hard to talk to someone about your mental illness – especially when so many people aren’t very understanding when it comes to things like depression. But sometimes reaching out to someone is the best thing you can do for yourself and there’s no shame in doing what’s best for you. Maybe you need to start going to a therapist or maybe you just need an understanding person to talk to you. When things are just feeling like too much for me, I let my husband know. Sometimes it helps just to tell him exactly how I’m feeling and let him comfort me. There are also professionals online that you can talk to if you feel more comfortable with that.

You definitely aren’t alone in how you’re feeling. There are many of us out here struggling and there will always be help, if and when you need it. Just remember that there’s hope for all of us. And feel free to reach out to me if you need someone to talk to. <3